Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both said they urged Republicans to temporarily reopen the government while they seek a solution on border security. On Thursday night, House Democrats passed legislation to fund eight closed departments through Sept. 30, and the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 8.
Democrats say that would end the uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of federal workers who face missing paychecks while leaders hash out an immigration agreement. But Trump has threatened to veto any legislation that does not fund his wall. The GOP-controlled Senate has pledged not to take up any proposal the president refuses to sign.
“We cannot resolve this until we open up government, and we made that very clear to the president,” Pelosi, who started her second stint as speaker on Thursday, told reporters outside the White House.
Trump has called a barrier necessary to securing U.S. borders — though he has not made it clear exactly what he wants in a structure on the U.S.-Mexico border. Earlier this week, Trump said he would wait “as long as it takes” to see his demands met.
Asked about a comment he made last month, in which he said he would be “proud to shut down the government for border security,” Trump said he doesn’t call the partial government closure a shutdown.
“I’m very proud of doing what I’m doing. I don’t call it a shutdown,” Trump said. “I call it doing what you have to do for the benefit and safety of our country.”
He told reporters that “you can call it the Schumer, or the Pelosi or the Trump shutdown, doesn’t make any difference to me. It’s just words.”
The partial shutdown entered its 14th day on Friday with no resolution in sight. Both the House and Senate adjourned Friday until Tuesday, meaning the closure will carry into next week unless lawmakers agree to a swift compromise.
As it dragged on Friday, Schumer accused the president of holding federal workers “hostage.”
WATCH:
Tech from self-driving cars could solve border security without Trump’s wall
from Just News Viral http://bit.ly/2s6L9sa
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